Sustainable denim treatment comes to India

Resil Chemicals is partnering with Acticell to eliminate what they consider a hazardous process of using potassium permanganate spray in the denim industry.

Resil Chemicals, one of Asia’s leading textile finishing chemicals and the auxiliary manufacturers, has joined forces with Acticell GmbH, an Austrian Chemical research company, to develop environmentally-friendly sustainable textiles. The collaboration is focused on developing a range of green, sustainable chemical solutions for the denim industry.

Resil Chemicals is partnering with Acticell to eliminate what they consider a hazardous process of using potassium permanganate spray in the denim industry. Most denim manufacturers rely on hazardous and environmentally damaging chemical processes like potassium permanganate (PP) treatments to create effects on denim. PP, considered as toxic and hazardous substance, is sprayed onto the denim fabric with a hand spray gun, exposing the factory employees to the danger of exposure to micro particles of PP.

“One of the innovative solutions offered by this collaboration is to substitute Potassium Permanganate with ACTIGO, a Laser Booster, powered by Green screen listed; patented Acticell technology,” says Ganesh Srinivasan, Executive Director – Innovation, Resil. ACTIGO enables jeans manufacturers to move to a new process that eliminates the need for PP spray and hand sand process. The new process of denim treatment carried out prior to laser step helps to create a new look as well as replicates denim effects similar to that of hand sand and PP process on denim garments just by using ACTIGO.

ACTIGO, a laser activated bleaching technology, helps in improving laser productivity thereby providing a cost neutral solution to switch over from PP sprays. Additionally, the new process saves water and energy in denim finishing and eliminates labour-intensive hand sand and not to mention improving the safety of factory employees. According to MS Vijayan, Joint Managing Director, Resil Chemicals, the results from early stages of development with major denim manufacturers have been very positive. “This treatment is now being used by major denim companies in North America and we seek to offer these solutions for South Asia.”

Resil Chemicals is an innovation-driven, diversified chemical and performance materials manufacturer. In textiles, Resil provides cutting-edge solutions for the complete range of specialty finishes and auxiliaries. With a heritage of more than 25 years of product development and innovation for the textile industry, Resil is one of Asia’s leading formulators of silicones for textiles.

The product range covers finishing, pre-treatment and specialty processes. Resil was one of the first company to begin a process of transformation by exploring the power of silicones in diverse industries. The company has developed new markets and now serves agriculture, paper, leather and other specialty chemical industries.